Bugs B Gone

Scenario

Background/Context

From antibacterial soap to childrensą toys manufactured with antibacterial
surfaces, with all the precautions today people assume they have eradicated
disease and infection. Yet, we continue to see outbreaks of illness. Where
do we find the most bacteria at school and what can we do to prevent illness?
This is the task middle school science students will tackle.

Beginning/Getting Started

Our saga begins as the seventh grade science class receives a email message
from school administrators distressed over high rates of absences due to infections
in school. The email enlists the aid of the science students to search out
and destroy the bugs. You can just hear the class. "Germs - Yuck."
"Here at our school. Ick." " I just drank out of the water
fountain. I want a doctor." Students will begin with preliminary internet
research which will lead to more questions, they will address via email to
local university professors acting as expert advisors for the groups.

Energized by their exciting research, students are now ready for the collection
and development of cultures. Deciding how many plates they need and where
they will collect their samples will be a critical moment in group dynamics.
The number of collections are restricted by how many plates are available
for all the students. This will create certain tensions in the groups as they
make their final choices. Each group may have five plates. They must then
brainstorm as a class where they would collect their samples. This is probably
one of the hardest parts of the project because everyone wants to go to the
same place. You can just hear the voices rise as they argue over which group
deserves the choice site. Students should be given an opportunity find a way
to distribute the wealth. One of the hardest things is to take a step back
and give them room to make this work. Samples will be collected, labeled and
places in the incubator. The next class will collect the data from their samples
and project is ready to move into the final phase.

Middle/In Progress

Students are now ready for the collection and development of cultures. They
have to decide how many plates they need and where they will collect their
samples. The number of collections are restricted by how many plates are available
for all the students. Each group could have five plates. They must then brainstorm
as a class where they would collector their samples. This is probably one
of the hardest parts of the project because everyone wants to go to the same
place. Students should be given an opportunity find a way to distribute the
wealth. One of the hardest things is to take a step back and give them room
to make this work. Samples will be collected, labeled and places in the incubator.
The next class will collect the data from their samples and project is ready
to move into the next phase. Students are now ready to visit the computer
lab to pull their information together, using database and spreadsheet and
graphing tools.

End/Culmination

Students are now ready to visit the computer lab to pull their information
together, using database and spreadsheet and graphing tools. As a group they
will look at the applications available and decide which to use to present
their work. They may choose from the standard lab report that depends on word
processing, data base and spreadsheet, and multimedia avenues which include
PowerPoint or Hyperstudio slideshows and web sites. Each group will consider
which applications will best suit their needs as they summerize their findings
and begin to come to some conclusions about how to solve the problem. At this
point they will probably depend a great deal on emailing their university
expert for advice. As this is to be the area students direct, after analysis,
they must then determine, based on their results, what needs to be done and
how to report this to the principal. If results merit it, they will need to
look at what suggestions they will make to help and how to present the suggestions.